RICHARD CHIVERS FROM BROUGHTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES IN WREXHAM AND SHROPSHIRE

In April 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Richard William Chivers, a 60-year-old man residing on Broughton Hall Road in Broughton. Chivers, who was employed as a primary school teacher and also served as the director of music at Wrexham Cathedral, was arrested at his home in September of the previous year amid serious allegations related to child sexual abuse images.

Authorities acted on intelligence suggesting that indecent images had been downloaded at his residence. During a police search, officers uncovered a staggering collection of approximately 3.6 million images. Despite the vast number, only a small portion had been categorized by law enforcement officials, highlighting the extensive nature of his digital collection.

Chivers was taken into custody and subsequently appeared in court, where he admitted to possessing and creating indecent images of children. His offenses spanned from June 2010 to September of the previous year, during which he produced four indecent images and four indecent videos, with some classified as Category A, the most severe level of child exploitation material.

In his police interview, Chivers claimed to be heterosexual and stated that he had never formed a romantic relationship. He explained that he had attempted to fill a void in his life by obsessively collecting images of boys. He described some images as depicting boys in underwear or in naturist settings, emphasizing that any acts involved only himself and not third parties. He attempted to rationalize his behavior by saying he viewed the boys from a paternal perspective, although he acknowledged that there was a sexual element involved.

Chivers admitted to having files labeled 'KP,' which he identified as kiddie porn, and described his collection as an obsession that had become akin to an addiction, negatively impacting his life. His digital devices were examined thoroughly, revealing the extent of his illicit activities.

Following his arrest, Chivers was sentenced to a 26-week prison term, which was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to undertake 40 days of rehabilitation and participate in a probation service course aimed at addressing his behavior. Additionally, a seven-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed, requiring him to register as a sex offender with the police for the same duration. The court transferred his community order to the West Mercia area after it was informed that he was relocating from Flintshire to Shropshire, indicating ongoing monitoring of his conduct and compliance with legal restrictions.